ISLAMABAD, April 20 (Xinhua) -- Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi Saturday said that his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif has agreed to trace militants involved in a recent terrorist attack in Pakistan, and take due action against them after investigations.
Addressing a press conference here, Qureshi said that the militants involved in the recent killing of 14 security personnel of passenger vans in Balochistan, have training and logistic camps in Iran, and his country wants Iran to take action against them.
A Balochistan separatism militants group claimed the attack and Pakistan has evidences that the group is hiding in Iran, Qureshi said, adding that they shared the location of the militants' camps and other actionable evidences against them with Iran after thorough investigation and confirmation.
The Pakistani foreign minister said that he had a detailed telephonic conversation with Zarif on Saturday who condemned the attack and termed it as an attack on security of Pakistan and Iran together.
Qureshi added that his country is waiting for a positive response from Iran to take action against the militants.
A group of militants intruded into Pakistan via Iran border earlier Thursday. Camouflaging themselves in Pakistani security forces' uniform, the militants offloaded 14 security personnel including 10 soldiers of Pakistan navy, three of Pakistan air force and one of Pakistan coastguards from buses and shot them dead.
Qureshi briefed that his country has already taken some useful measures to ensure security at Pak-Iran border including formation of a special force to increase vigilance at the border.
Other steps like increasing the number of paramilitary troops for patrolling and establishment of joint border centers with cooperation of Pakistan and Iran were also taken, he added.
The foreign minister said that Pakistan has decided to fence 950 km- long border with Iran with special focus on the points that are most vulnerable to militants' intrusion, adding that the work on the fencing has already been kicked off.
The two countries have decided to synchronize the border exercises, and a helicopter surveillance to monitor the border for avoiding intrusion is also under progress, Qureshi said.
He told media that Prime Minister Imran Khan will embark on an official visit to Iran on Sunday, and measures to form a mechanism to avoid militancy on both sides of the border will be discussed between Pakistani and Iranian authorities during his two-day visit.
